Fallers Perspective on Saws

[imagineero]

I run both husky and stihl, but im not a faller any more and havent been for some years. I'm a climber/tree service. We run about a dozen saws most times, mainly stihl though. In general the huskies are higher revving/formula 1 style saws that rev high and they're a little cheaper to buy. They don't last as long but the younger guys seem to prefer them. The stihls are more like V8's, more reliable, last longer and more torque, more power lower in the rev band which for me makes for a better work saw in big wood.

I've got a few 441cms and they've been very reliable. We get about 2 years out of them with hard daily use. They go great with the stihl ES lite bars. People balk at the price but those bars are so durable, and over the life of the bar it adds very little to the cost of use. 28" ES lite balances real nice on a 441cm. I've got one that hunts for no reason. the other two have always run fine.

660 is a real work horse but not that nice of a saw to fall with day in day out. 32" ES lite balances real nice on it, 36"ES lite a little less sweet but still a whole lot nicer than a stock bar.

390 and 395 are both great strong saws but not as long lasting as the stihls.

whatever saw you get, port it for sure. Randy (mastermind) does the strongest 660 I've ever had, and I've had a few. I've not had one from treeslingr though.

Either way, the better cutter with the sharpest chain is going to win the day, not the better saw.

 

[HuskStihl]

Nice wraps Jon!

I ain't no bucker! Actually I'd probably be the guy carrying the bucker's gear.
The 288 has a great, old-school, "square" wrap. Fits my big mitts perfect. Same with the 394. The 385/390 wrap is "rounder" and "tighter". Harder for me to toss around, but more compact.

 

[rwoods]

Jon, I see all those fuel cans. No wonder your saw budget is so tight. I would go broke running my old guzzlers on that stuff.

Ron

 

[HuskStihl]

I fill 'em with pump gas and mix. They are great to take into the woods.

 

[bnmc98]

I fill 'em with pump gas and mix. They are great to take into the woods.

I stole Bitzer's idea of hanging some camp fuel bottles off my work belt. I can leave the truck with 2 1/2 tanks of fuel total and just keep going. I love it!

except now I have to pull my pants up more, may have to get suspenders

 

[bitzer]

Yep suspenders on a wedge belt are a must.

Jon I know what you mean about room around the handles.

 

[coltont]

No spenders and your under pants will be jacked up in a hurry.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[bitzer]

No spenders and your under pants will be jacked up in a hurry.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

Yep!

 

[treeslayer2003]

Spent the morning topping, bucking, and skidding the mother of all water oaks. Used the 288, as it's about the smallest saw I own which isn't in pieces. The oak was a flood victim and was tangled with a holly it crushed on the way down. It was kinda a mess, and I wound up boring many of the bucking cuts as I was having a hard time reading the tension. That being said, with a 28" bar, that saw is surprisingly nimble for 88cc's. I'm also old enough to be Colton's grand-pappy, Bitzer's dad, and Handsome Mike's older brother, so my back will not be happy tomorrow.

pft

 

[bnmc98]

Seems like suspenders would send wood chips to your underwear pronto though.

 

[chucker]

Seems like suspenders would send wood chips to your underwear pronto though.

better to have wood in your shorts, than a skiddermarks around the behind! lol long tail t,s take care of the chips in the shorts and soak up the sweat in your socks!!!

 

[HuskStihl]

Bnmc, now that you have that 661, you should send that 288 over to mdavlee for the finger-port treatment. It'll come back nasty.

 

[BeatCJ]

No spenders and your under pants will be jacked up in a hurry.

And we all know "Nothing goes right when your underwear's tight"

 

[bnmc98]

but i spent all my money on the 661

I was sick and almost threw up for 3 hrs after I bought it because I already can't afford it.

But yes a ported 288 would be nice.

 

[treeslayer2003]

but i spent all my money on the 661

I was sick and almost threw up for 3 hrs after I bought it because I already can't afford it.

But yes a ported 288 would be nice.

dang bro, ya gotta have stuff to work with. and its tax deductible

 

[bnmc98]

I know but I struggle as it is and have 4 kids. So it hurts up front.

Thanks for encouraging me though.
Yes it will be a good tool to use.

 

[treeslayer2003]

my kids are grown but one and my place and equipment are payed off.......i forget some times.........i do remember the struggle. it gets better, i didn't think it ever would but it did. now these dam property taxes........

 

[bitzer]

Hey I've got 5. 2-13 years old. I make enough that my wife doesn't have to work, but it can get tight after a couple of break downs and a wet week or two. I know all about it man! Thats why I learned to port my own.

 

[1270d]

sounds like its time for another one bitz.

 

[bitzer]

sounds like its time for another one bitz.

Thats what my wife thinks. My little guy is turning three in a couple of weeks and thats been the pattern every 3 years. Too bad this last time she demanded I get snipped. We were done then she says. I wasn't so sure. Turned out I was right. My uncle has a saying about women, " ya can't live with em and ya can't live with em."